John Tory doesn’t quite share Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut’s extreme enthusiasm for a 2024 Olympic bid.
In a guest appearance on Tim & Sid, the Toronto Mayor did show some interest in the possibility, but offered a more practical approach.
“Marcel Aubut calls (the Olympic Games) the greatest show on earth,” Tory said. That’s not a reason to have it, though. It better really benefit the city of Toronto for it to be worth considering.”
Tory acknowledged a letter of intention would need to be placed by Sept. 15 in order for the city to get involved in the bidding process, but also pointed out that that he still needs to spearhead a thorough cost-benefit analysis as well as consult other levels of government before determining whether it makes sense to move forward.
“We’ll have to get through (the Parapan Am Games) and then we’ll have a rational analysis,” Tory said of his plans over the next month. “‘What was good and what wasn’t so good? Is it going to be a net benefit?’. You don’t do these things because you’re pumped. You do it because it will be good for the city — and not just for sports. Well have a rational, sensible discussion about it.”
“The balance sheet is important. Someone made the case that Barcelona was a city no one talked about [before hosting] the Olympics. Now it’s one of the five most visited cities in the world.”
However, despite understanding some of the hesitation surrounding a potential bid, Tory was encouraged by a recent meeting with International Olympic Committee boss Thomas Bach.
“(He) came to my office and said it’s a whole new world. They’re looking for people who can re-use or renew [facilities] so it’s a more responsible way. I want to know if that’s for real … Dr. Bach is a new era of leadership in that he figured out that people [shouldn’t] bid money they don’t have and he knows it’s a thing of the past.
“I hope they are transparent and sensible.”